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un. 6|5,62o; Patented nec. s, |898.

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BURIAL APPARATUS.

. (Application tiled Hay 17, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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no. s|5,s2o. Patented nec. 6,1898. E. c. Josou.

BumAL APPARATUS.

(Applimion mea my 17, 169s.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD C. A.IOBSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO FANNIE F. WILLIAMS AND ADA M. JOBSON, OF SAME PLACE.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,620, dated December 6, 1898.

Application fled May 17, 1898. Serial No. 680,925. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD C. Jonson, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Grave-Ooneealers; and I hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a device which is especially designed to be employed during the burial of persons in the earth and is intended to avoid many of the disagreeable features of interment.

It consists, essentially, of a device for receiving and lowering the casket into the grave and at the same time of closing over the grave an ornamental or iower-covered screen, which is operated simultaneously with the lowering mechanism. l

The invention also comprises details of construction, which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which--h Figure 1 is a plan of my device. Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections through the center of the head and foot end of theframe and connections. Fig. 4. is a transverse section of the same.

A is a framework or platform made of timber and boards, of such shape and size as to surround the periphery of the grave, resting upon the surface of the ground outside of the opening.

B is a rough framework of lumber sufficiently strong for the purpose and so shaped that it will support the casket or coffin. Upon each side of this framework B are the peripheral projecting guidesC, which serve to prevent the coiiin from slipping from one side to the other, retaining it in proper position upon the framework. Journaled at one end on the frame A and concealed beneath the top board thereof is a shaft or drum D. ,Around this shaft are coiled the ropes E, one pair of which is connected with the head of the frame B, and the other pair extends along the sides of the framework and passes around guide-pulleys F at the foot, so as to connect with the foot of the framework B. This connection may be made by means of hooks, clasps, or any suitable or desirable device, and guidepulleys F may be conveniently placed upon the frame A, so as to direct the ropes E and allow them to run without friction when the frame B is being lowered. Y

In order to control the movements of the shaft or drum D, I have shown a brake-drum H iiXed centrally upon the shaft, and around `it passes a strap-brake I of any suitable form or construction. This strap-brake is preferably fixed to a lever-arm, upon the outer end of which is a small foot-piece J, the whole being so situated that theoperator has only to place his foot upon the part .I and compress the brake against the drum as strongly as may be needed to sustain the weight upon the frame B and allow it to be gradually lowered to its resting-place.

In order to hold the frame B in position while the casket is being placed upon it, I have shown pins or teeth K fixed to the drum and a pawl L, hinged to the framework A, adapted to engage these pins, and thus hold the brake-drum in position until everything is in readiness. After the casket has been set upon the frame B it may be desirable to bring a suflicient tension upon the supporting-ropes E to practically suspend the frame B from these ropes in order to prevent a sudden drop when the holding-pawl has been released. I have therefore shown a crank M applied to the end of the shaft D, which enables the operator to turn the shaft backward until suficient tension is brought upon the ropes E to practically support the framework B and its load. Then by placing the foot upon the brake-lever and releasing the pawl the framework and its load may be lowered to the bottom of the grave.

In order to conveniently release the pawl L, I have shown a cord L, connected with it, passing up through the iioor board of the framework A, so as to be in convenient reach of the operator when he has placed his foot upon the brake-lever J.

O O' are quadrants, which are shown as being formed of wire network in arcs of cir cles and connected with quadrant-shaped frames P at each end, which are pivoted in the framework A, as shown at Q. These quadrants O O may be ornamented in any suitable or desirable manner by covering with flowers or otherwise, and when the supporting-framework B is in position to first receive the casket these quadrants open out in each direction and lie upon each side of the opening within the framework A, leaving a clear open space between them in which the frameworkB is suspended, as previously described. Connected with the lower sides of these quadrants are ropes R. These ropes, passing around suitable direction-pulleys, extend to the drum D and are coiled upon it from the opposite side to which the ropes E are coiled, so that when the ropes are uncoiled by reason of the lowering of the platform B and its load the ropes R will be wound upon the drum and will thus pull upon their connection with the quadrants O OQ thus closing the quadrants together, forming a semicircular arch above the casket as it disappears into the grave. A latch of any suitable description is so arranged as to retain the parts O O in position when closed, and the ropes R may he so attached to these parts that they will easily slip off as soon as the parts are closed together,

and the shaft D thus continues its rotation and allows the casket to sink to its restingplace after the parts O O have been closed over it.

It will be manifest that various modifications of these devices may be employed and details of operative features without materially altering the character of the invention.

The screens are preferably made in sections slidable longitudinally, so as to be len gthened 0r shortened, and thus adjusted for large or small persons.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A grave-concealing device, consisting of an open framework adapted to rest about the peripheryof the grave, a shaft j ournaled upon said framework having a brake and actuating mechanism, a casket-supporting frame movable within the opening of the framework, ropes coiled upon the shaft and extending around direction-pulleys with connecting hooks or fastenings by which they are attached to the casket-supporting frame whereby the latter may be lowered by releasing the brake and a normally open closure for the grave operative in conjunction with the casket-lowering devices for covering and concealing the grave when the casket is being lowered.

2. In combination with means for s upporting and lowering a casket, a normally open covering about the entrance to the grave and connections between said covering and the casket-lowering devices whereby as the casket is lowered the covering closes over the grave and conceals the casket.

3. A grave-concealing device, consisting of a rectangular open-centered frame adapted to rest upon the periphery of the grave, avwinding-drum brake mechanism, and ropes controlled by said drum and mechanism, a casket-supporting frame with attachments to which the ropes connect whereby it may be lowered gradually through the openings and exterior framework, curved frames centrally j ournaled upon the exterior framework; cords connecting the said frames with the windingdrums so that as the drums allow the casketsupporting frame to descend they wind up these second ropes, and cause the frameworks to close above the descending casket.

4. In a grave-concealing device mechanism of a character described, whereby the casket may be gradually lowered into the grave, quadrant-shaped screens having a pivot at each end at the center of motion, so that they may be opened upon each side of the grave to admit the casket and its supporting-cords connections with the lower edges of these screens, direction-pulleys over which the cords pass, and winding-dru ms about which the cords are coiled as the casket descends, whereby the screens are closed together above the descending casket and ratchets whereby they are locked in place after being closed.

5. In a grave-concealing device, mechanism of the character described whereby the casket may be gradually lowered into the grave and normally open, concealing-screens with mechansm by which they are actuated in unison with the movements of the casket to close over it.

6. In a grave-concealing device, mechanism of the character described whereby the casket may be gradually lowered into the grave, concealing screens with mechanism by which they are actuated in unison with the movements of the casket, said screens being adjustable in length as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD C. JOBSON.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. STRONG, S. H. NoURsE.

IOS 

